U.S. Navy veteran Joe Boogren gives the keynote speech at Friday’s Veterans Day ceremony at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. The ceremony also included special messages from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other elected officials. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — Special tributes were paid during a special Veterans Day ceremony on Friday at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.

“We’re here today to honor you, our heroes, to remember your achievements, your courage and dedication, and to say thank you for the sacrifices you have made,” said Ron Oja, Jacobetti administrator.

The keynote speaker was Joe Boogren, a U.S. Navy veteran and Forsyth Township supervisor.

He said that he believes that individuals who serve are viewed with a sense of understanding of what may come to pass, such as losing an “innocence of the horrors of war” as well as their own lives.

“That does take a special breed, a special person, one with a deep and abiding sense of duty and honor,” Boogren said. “It isn’t merely the prospect of war and the preparation for it that is daunting. It’s the prospect of loss.”

He stressed that the loss of life has a particular impact on loved ones — a loss that is the “most haunting” about service.

“It is the loved ones for whom a veteran serves,” Boogren said.

However, he noted that being a veteran is not all about war and combat.

“Very much of it is about representing the true goodness of America at home and abroad,” Boogren said.

The ceremony also included songs by Toni Saari, posting and retiring of the colors, taps, the Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation and benediction, and special messages from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills; state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock; and state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township. Special thanks went to the Veteran of Foreign Wars District 14 for leading the ceremony.

Whitmer proclaimed this month as Veterans and Military Families Month and Veterans Caregivers Month.

“To the families of service members, thank you for supporting your moms or dads, aunts or uncles, brothers or sisters, sons or daughters while on deployment,” Whitmer said in an a statement. “To the military and veteran caregivers who are relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers, thank you for your dedication to our wounded, ill or injured veterans while balancing all your other commitments to your families, jobs and communities. Your support is essential, and it is our responsibility to ensure you do not have to do it alone.”

Whitmer said the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency addresses the needs of Michigan veterans. To find available resources, call 800-642-4838 or visit www.michigan.gov/MVAA. If someone is a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, they are urged to call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1; text 838255; or chat online confidentially at www.veteranscrisisline.net.